Syracuse -- This, folks, is why those who hate the New York Yankees hate the New York Yankees.

One hundred and sixty-one million dollars, every last one of which is guaranteed. For seven years. For CC Sabathia.

And there are threats -- no, prophecies -- coming out of the Bronx of more financial gluttony.

A.J. Burnett. Ben Sheets. Derek Lowe. Andy Pettitte. Each is a free agent and as many as three of them, who combined might make a run at $161 million, themselves, could end up with the Bombers, who'd have all that pitching to go with their $28-million-a-year third baseman and $21-million-a-year shortstop and $15-million-a-year catcher and $15-million-a-year closer and two $13-million-a-year outfielders.

Associated Press/John HayesCC Sabathia, who can fill out a uniform, is bound for pinstripes. And with the New York Yankees having given him a $161-million contract, he's bound for the window at the bank, too.

Oh, and until that day that they choose to be out of it with Mark Teixeira -- who has a $160-million offer on the table from the Washington Nationals -- they're still in it with Mark Teixeira. Which means the Yanks may soon add a $20-million-a-year first baseman to the lineup.

Now, I understand that there is a prevailing opinion that money does not buy titles. And as the frugal Tampa Bay Rays are the sitting American League champions, there is some juice in that thinking. But there is little evidence that the New York club believes any of it. And that, in turn, explains why so many people out there curl their lips at the Yankees, who are the undisputed dollars-and-cents bullies of professional sports.

They can because of those vast revenue streams the geographical gods have allowed them, and virtually nobody else, to develop . . . and so, they do.

They can because MLB continues to do business without a salary cap (and a corresponding salary floor) . . . and so, they do.

They can because there are little statuettes of Gordon Gekko on the dashboards of the Steinbrenners . . . and, so they do.

And the result is this monstrosity of ever-diminishing credibility. For instance, when the Yankees play the Royals next year, some people will have the chutzpah to label it a "big-league baseball game," but it will be no such thing. And not because of good or bad baseball decisions . . . or good or bad luck . . . or good or bad performances by comparable collections of talent. It'll be a farce because one side will have, oh, its top dozen players averaging, say, $18 million a year . . . and the other will be called the Royals.

That's just one example, of course. But you get the idea. The Yankees aren't the 800-pound gorilla that sleeps wherever it wants. They're the creature that scares the 800-pound gorilla right off the couch.

And that explains an awful lot.

-- Bud Poliquin
bpoliquin@syracuse.com

(In addition to reading his columns and "To The Point" commentaries regularly in The Post-Standard newspaper, you can hear Bud Poliquin on the "Bud & The Manchild Show," which is broadcast on Sports Radio 620 WHEN (AM 620) Mondays through Fridays between 3-6 p.m. You can also listen on-line at www.sportsradio620.com.)